urban design group annual report and accounts 2015 annual... · 2015-06-09 · 1 urban design...
TRANSCRIPT
Urban Design Group
Annual Report and Accounts 2015
1
Urban Design Group: Annual Report 2015
Report of the Trustees for the year ending 28 February 2015
Address: 70 Cowcross Street, London EC1M 6EJ
Charity Number: 326123
Trustees as at 19 May 2015: Roger Evans Arnold Linden Marcus Wilshere
Statement of trustees’ responsibilities:
Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial
statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial
activities during the year and of its incoming resources and resources expended during that
year. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended
practice have been followed.
Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the activities of the charity will continue.
Confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidelines on public
benefit.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to
ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of
Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities 2005. They are also
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps
for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Constitution The Urban Design Group is governed by a Constitution (see Annex B) and run by an Executive
Committee appointed by election at the annual general meeting. The operation of the
Urban Design Group is the responsibility of the Executive Committee.
Executive Committee 2014-2015 Patrons
Katy Neaves (Chair)
Colin Pullan* (Hon Treasurer)
Ben van Bruggen*
Philip Cave
Andrew Dakin* (corresponding)
Azar Djamali
Jeremy Hernalesteen
Stefan Kruczkowski
Laura Alvarez
Sebastian Loew
Colin Munsie
Amanda Reynolds
Paul Reynolds
Barry Sellers
Graham Smith*
Alan Stones
Irena Bauman
Alan Baxter
Dickon Robinson
Helle Søholt
Lindsey Whitelaw
John Worthington
* Denotes that this member was co-opted to
the Executive Committee for 2014-15.
2
Performance & Achievements
Membership
Category
May
2015
June
2014
June
2013
June
2012
June
2011
June
2010
June
2009
June
2008
Standard Individual (UK) 633 630 647 655 714 734 826 868
Standard Individual
(International)
81 81 81 83 79 78 88 92
Recognised Practitioner 104 96 88 71 63 48 9 -
Concession (student /
unwaged - UK only)
158 172 175 189 192 167 153 154
Practice (UK) 120 120 128 128 135 148 167 171
Practice (International) 5 6 6 5 7 7 11 11
Local Authority 25 25 36 34 36 39 46 41
University 19 18 15 14 14 13 12 12
Library (UK) 42 41 44 43 41 44 41 42
Library (International) 42 39 42 42 39 41 41 40
Sub-total 1229 1228 1262 1264 1320 1319 1394 1431
Newsletter only 926 1308 675 608 476 300 212 c.100
Totals 2155 2536 1937 1872 1796 1619 1606 1531
The year saw the implementation of an increase in membership subscription rates, the first for
10 years. It was pleasing to see that this had no effect on membership numbers.
December 2015 saw the introduction of an integrated membership and accounts system
implemented through considerable voluntary work.
Urban Design Journal
Urban Design is directed and managed by the UDG Editorial Board. The membership of the
Editorial Board for 2014-15 comprised:
Sebastian Loew (editor)
Louise Thomas (editor)
John Billingham
Matthew Carmona
Tim Catchpole
Richard Cole
Alastair Donald
Tim Hagyard
Joe Holyoak
Daniela Lucchesse
Jane Manning (Book Review Editor)
Chris Martin
Malcolm Moor
Judith Ryser
Polly Turton
Over the past year a number of high quality contributions was received on a variety of topics,
occasionally fairly controversial. The Editorial Board always welcomes these and encourages
members to make contact if there is an issue that they would like to share with others. The
Editorial Board has also received letters responding to previous articles and would welcome
more of these.
The issues of Urban Design published since the 2014 AGM were:
Summer 2014 UD131 Waterfronts
Autumn 2014 UD132 Data Technology and Urban Design
Winter 2015 UD133 Greening the City
Spring 2015 UD134 Garden Cities
3
Urban Design Directory 2015-17
The Urban Design Directory was revised by Louise Thomas and launched at the National
Urban Design Awards 2014. The directory has been widely circulated to developers, house-
builders and local authorities, and in addition a dedicated website has been created by Ed
Povey of BrightPie www.urbandesigndirectory.com.
The National Urban Design Awards 2015
Led by Noha Nasser and the UDG Awards Group, the National Urban Design Awards had a
highly successful year with the awards event at the Victory Services Club in March 2015 full to
capacity. The event was generously sponsored by Routledge, Urban Initiatives Studio (2014
Practice Award Winner), and Bespoke, with the Francis Tibbalds Trust continuing its generous
support through the provision of financial prizes in the practice and student categories.
The finalists and winners for 2015 were as follows:
PRACTICE AWARD
Selected by vote of Urban Design Group membership
Receiving the £1000 Francis Tibbalds Award
Winner:
Trent Basin, Nottingham, URBED
Finalists
South Acton Masterplan, HTA Design LLP
St Clement's Hospital, Bow, John Thompson & Partners
Ocean Estate Regeneration, Tower Hamlets, Levitt Bernstein
PUBLIC SECTOR AWARD
Selected by vote of the Urban Design Group Membership
Winner:
Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust, Birmingham City Council
Finalists:
King’s Crescent Community Orchard - Pocket Park, London Borough of Hackney
Southwater Development - Regeneration of Town Centre, Telford and Wrekin Council
DEVELOPER AWARD
Winner
Barratt Homes Southern Region
Bentley Priory (Phase 1), Stanmore
Trumpington Meadows, Cambridge
Montague Park (Phase 1), Wokingham
Special Commendation Finalists
Davidsons Homes
Millbrook, Melbourne, Derbyshire
St James’ Gate, Anstey, Leicestershire
Scraptoft Hall, Leicestershire
STUDENT AWARD
Winner
Re-imagining Swansea High Street – The Green Lanes, Clara Kohler, Cardiff University
4
Finalists
Breaking Down Barriers – Birmingham Central Mosque, Karina Wahyuni Utami, Cardiff
University
Nottingham Mediapark, Adriyan Kusum, University of Nottingham
Regeneration of Urban Neighbourhood, Siti Anis; Sen Chen; Osman Khalifa, Strathclyde
University
BOOK AWARD
Winner
Smart Cities: Big data, civic hackers, and the quest for a new utopia, Anthony M. Townsend,
W. W. Norton & Company
Runner Up
How to study public life, Jan Gehl and Birgitte Svarre, Island Press,
Finalists
Food City, CJ Lim, Routledge
Sustainable Urban Metabolism, Paulo Ferrão and John E. Fernandez, The MIT Press
The Nature Of Urban Design: A New York perspective on resilience, Alexandros Washburn,
Island Press
The City as a Tangled Bank: Urban Design vs Urban Evolution, Terry Farrell, John Wiley and Sons
Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns, Victor Dover and John Massengale, John
Wiley and Sons, lnc
Designing Urban Transformation, Aseem Inam, Routledge
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Lifetime Achievement Award for 2015 went to Sir Terry Farrell.
Education Group
The Education Group met at the Nottingham Conference in September 2014.
National Conference on Urban Design
The conference was held at Nottingham Trent University, with a comprehensive programme
devised by Laura Alvarez and Stefan Kruczkowski. The conference featured technical visits,
twenty three speakers in triple parallel sessions. The annual dinner was held at the City Hall,
with music provided by an Argentinian Tango orchestra. Mr Ben Hamilton-Baillie gave a
recitation of the Argentinian Tango song “El Cordon” – The Kerb, with a translation
commissioned specially for the conference. A table design competition was judged by Sir
Terry Farrell, and the diners were addressed by Graham Allen, MP for North Nottingham. The
UDG is hugely grateful to Laura and Stefan for their efforts and inspiration in creating a
remarkable three days.
Events - London
The UDG has continued to develop and expand its ambitious programme which now
includes around 20 events per year at Cowcross Street alone. Led by Paul Reynolds the 2014-
15 programme included presentations, a film night and walks.
Urbannous – Video on Demand
Thanks are due to Fergus Carnegie who continues his largely voluntary work to record the
UDG’s monthly events at Cowcross Street, making them available to a global audience
through the Urbannous website. This is a great resource and a tremendously valuable archive
of the huge number of presentations given at the UDG over recent years.
In the past 12 months the visibility of the lectures on the site has been greatly enhanced by
the development of a subject index.
5
UDG Regions
Colin Munsie has continued in his role as UDG Vice-Chair for the regions, working to
strengthen the Group’s links throughout the UK and beyond.
Solent Peter Frankum
East Midlands Laura Alvarez
North East Georgia Giannopoulou
North West Mark Foster & Rebecca Newiss for STREET NW
Scotland
Francis Newton
Jo White
Yorkshire Rob Thompson
Wales Noel Isherwood
West Midlands Michael Vout
Special reports from the Regions
East Midlands
The activity in the East Midlands has radically increased in the past two years, particularly
following the UDG Conference in 2014.
We have had strong involvement in consulting regeneration strategies, both
within Nottingham city centre and in its outskirts, especially in deprived areas in south and
north of the city. These ventures involved community engagement and working in close
relation with the local universities over a series of projects, seminars and through expert
advisory groups including the smart-phone Placecheck (thanks to other regions and in
particular to London for the support!).
Although we have a long way to go in the East Midlands we also have a strong level of
commitment, and the UDG in this region is developing rapidly as a vehicle to bridge groups
and communities making the most of the skills and resources we have to support positive
development.
Laura Alvarez
South (Solent)
Over the past 12 months the Group has continued its regular meetings in Southampton, co-
ordinated by Peter Frankum (Savills) and drawing together public and private sector
representatives from across the Solent area.
- Continued support and sponsorship for the high profile Solent design awards
- The launch of a training scheme for councillors and allied professions led by Liz Kessler,
John Hearn, Richard Eastham and Mark Waller-Gutierrez, with three heavily attended
events held in Winchester and Eastleigh.
6
Urban Design Study Tours
This year’s study tours
- Toulouse and the Bastides of Gascony – led by Alan Stones
- Hamburg - including Hafen & IBA – led by Sebastian Loew
Email Newsletter
The UDG’s email newsletter Urban Update continues to be a valuable resource for urban
designers, and in 2015 steps were taking to maintain a weekly service whenever possible; it is
received directly by around 2000 individuals and provides a concise monitoring service of
the government websites in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of
Ireland, as well as news of research in a wide range of areas that add richness to urban
design including psychology, sociology, public health, technology and economics. It is
hoped that the newsletter will become more regular over the coming year.
Policy and Campaigns
During the past 12 months some key members of the group have worked on a series of
initiatives including:
The Farrell Review of Architecture and the Built Environment
Designing the Underworld – Robert Huxford
Industrious Cities – Jeremey Hernalesteen
Urban Form – Roger Evans
Health and Physical Activity – Barry Sellers
Health and Physical Activity– Special Report
UDG Executive member Barry Sellers has been leading on this campaign and organised an
event in April 2015 with three speakers setting out the issues from their different perspectives.
Vernon Herbert of the NHS Healthy Urban Development Unit (HUDU)
http://www.healthyurbandevelopment.nhs.uk/
Lucy Saunders of Transport for London explained the Mayor of London’s initiatives, which
focused on encouraging more people to use public transport and cycling as part of the
overall objective of improving the health and well-being of people in London.
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/improving-the-health-of-londoners-
transport-action-plan.pdf
Rachel Toms reported on Design Council Cabe’s initiatives on Active Design, which seeks to
provide guidance on creating places which are designed in a way that facilitates being
physically active as an everyday lifestyle.
http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/projects/active-design
There was an active question and answer session and suggestions that a follow-up event
would be useful. Participants at the event encouraged the UDG to participate in the initiative
by the Place Alliance, a pan-professional group, and this event took place in May. The
collaboration across sectors on this topic area is most encouraging and further support from
UDG members is encouraged.
It is planned to continue the campaign into 2016 and identify positive outcomes. If you missed
the event it is available on Urbannous.
http://www.urbannous.org.uk/
Urban Design Week
Urban Design Week is an annual national event that champions urban design by promoting
and encouraging awareness of places through good practice, fostering innovation in the
built environment, and celebrating urban culture and lifestyles. Urban Design Week was first
launched in the United Kingdom but other countries are encouraged to participate by
7
promoting it to make this a truly international event. Urban Design Week in 2014 was very low
key due to the difficulty of attracting sponsorship.
Financial Review
Reserves policy
The definition of ‘reserve’ is: ‘Income which becomes available to the Charity and is to be
expended at the Trustees’ discretion in furtherance of the Charity’s objectives, but which is
not yet spent, committed or designated’. This definition therefore excludes restricted funds
and sums already invested in fixed assets.
The trustees have reviewed the reserves of the charity and, in view of the current financial
situation, are of the opinion that they should fall no lower than a minimum of £50,000. This will
provide sufficient funds to enable the charity to meet outstanding obligations.
Approved by the Trustees on 8 June 2015
and signed on their behalf
......................................................................
Arnold Linden
Urban Design Group: Annual Report 2015
8
Annex A: Summary of Accounts
2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Totals Totals Totals Totals Totals Totals Totals Totals
INCOMING RESOURCES
Subscriptions
Conference Fees and
Sponsorship
114,461
14,246
76,781
-
75,656
-
77,400
-
78,784
-
82,464
-
89,655
-
74,943
-
Publications and Awards 6,099 13,354 32,856 11,324 31,648 13,875 48,196 6,133
Training Income 0 150
Donation from Urban Design
Services Ltd
13,963 9,824 4,731 11,038 4,849 5,974 4,044 15,783
UDSL Contribution to Office
Costs
- - - 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,391
Activities to Generate Funds
Interest Received 373 920 1,003 740 549 1,282 3,939 3,572
Inland Revenue: Gift Aid 4,216 3,992 4,120 5,192 4,314 7,749 5,267 2,055
Miscellaneous Income 458 335 580 468 581 44 497 639
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 153,816 105,206 118,946 111,162 125,725 116,388 156,598 108,666
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable Expenditure
Publications & Awards
Conference Expenditure
24,110
16,201
30,933
-
49,676
-
29,587
-
51,789
-
38,671
-
37,888
-
25,295
-
General 65,538 79,431 86,312 76,098 77,351 72,749 70,118 64,938
Development Expenditure - - 5,000 2,500 2,500 1,200
Governance costs
(accountancy)
1,200 1,140 1,116 1,080 1,560 940 920 2,268
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 107,049 111,504 142,104 109,265 133,200 113,560 108,926 92,501
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
FOR THE YEAR
46,767 (6,298 (23,158) 1,897 (7,475) 2,828 47,672 16,165
FUND BALANCES BROUGHT
FORWARD
93,967 100,265 123,423 121,526 128,801 125,973 78,301 62,136
FUND BALANCES CARRIED
FORWARD
140,734 93,967 100,265 123,423 121,326 128,801 125,973 78,301
CURRENT ASSETS 188,044 125,359 139,458 126,212 143,167 129,740 127,893 103,933
CURRENT LIABILITIES 47,271 31,393 39,194 2,790 21,842 940 1,920 25,632
TOTAL NET ASSETS 140,733 93,967 100,265 123,423 121,326 128,801 125,973 78,301
Urban Design Group: Annual Report 2015
9
Annex B: Constitution (As amended at AGM June 2010)
1. NAME
The name shall be the URBAN DESIGN
GROUP.
2. OBJECTS
The Group is established for the public
benefit for the following purposes:
To promote high standards of
performance and inter-professional co-
operation in planning, urban design
and architecture, landscape design
and all other aspects of the built
environment.
To educate the relevant professions
and the public in matters relating to
Urban Design
In furtherance of the said purposes but not
otherwise the Group through its Executive
Committee shall have the following powers:-
i. To promote research into subjects directly
connected with the objects of the Group
and to publish the results of any such
research.
ii. To act as a co-ordinating body and to co-
operate with related professional bodies
and any voluntary organisations, charities
and persons having aims similar to those of
the Group.
iii. To publish papers reports and other
literature.
iv. To make surveys and prepare maps and
plans and collect information in relation to
any place, erection or building.
v. To hold meetings, lectures and exhibitions.
vi. To educate public and professional opinion
and to give advice and information.
vii. To raise funds and to invite and receive
contributions from any person or persons
whatsoever by way of subscription,
donation or otherwise; provided that the
Group shall not undertake any permanent
trading activities in raising funds for its
primary purpose.
viii. To acquire, by purchase, gift or otherwise,
property whether subject to any special
trust or not.
ix. To sell, let mortgage, dispose of or turn to
account all or any of the property or funds
of the group as shall be necessary.
x. To borrow or raise money for the purposes
of the Group on such items and on such
security as the Executive Committee shall
think fit, but so that the liability of the
individual members of the Group shall in no
case extend beyond the amount of their
respective annual subscriptions
xi. To do all such other things as are necessary
for the attainment of the said purposes.
3. MEMBERSHIP
Membership shall be open to all who are
interested in actively furthering the
purposes of the Group. No member shall
have power to vote at any meeting of the
Group if his or her subscription is in arrears at
the time. Corporate members shall be such
groups, associations, educational
institutions or businesses as are interested in
furthering the purposes of the Group. A
corporate member shall appoint a
representative to vote on its behalf at all
meetings but, before such a representative
exercises his or her right to vote, the
corporate member shall give particulars in
writing to the Honorary Secretary of such a
representative. Membership will run for a 12
month period from the beginning of the
month of joining.
4. SUBSCRIPTIONS
The subscriptions shall be the amount
determined by the Executive Committee
subject to notification to the membership
one month in advance of any change.
Membership shall lapse if the subscription is
unpaid three months after it is due.
5. MEETINGS
The Annual General Meeting shall be held
in or about May of each year to receive the
Executive Committee’s report and audited
accounts and to elect Officers and
members of the Committee. The
Committee shall decide when ordinary
meetings of the Group shall be held.
Special General Meetings of the Group
shall be held at the written request of fifteen
or more members whose subscriptions are
fully paid up. Twenty members personally
present shall constitute a quorum of the
Group. The Committee shall give at least 7
days’ notice to members of all Meetings of
the Group.
6. OFFICERS
The officers shall consist of a Chairman,
Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.
Urban Design Group: Annual Report 2015
10
Nominations for the election of Officers
shall be made in writing to the Honorary
Secretary at least 14 days before the
Annual General Meeting. Such nominations
shall be supported by a seconder and the
consent of the proposed nominee must first
have been obtained. The elections of
officers shall be completed prior to the
election of future committee members.
Nominees for election as officers or
Committee members shall declare at the
Annual General Meeting at which their
election is to be considered any financial or
professional interest known or likely to be of
concern to the Group.
7. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee shall be
responsible for the management and
administration of the Group. The Executive
Committee shall consist of the Officers and
not less than 6 and not more than 10 other
members. The Committee shall have
power to co-opt further members (who
shall attend in an advisory and non-voting
capacity). In the event of an equality in the
votes cast, the Chairman shall have a
second or casting vote. Nominations for
election to the Executive Committee shall
be made in writing to the Honorary
Secretary at least 14 days before the
Annual General Meeting. They must be
supported by a seconder and the consent
of the proposed nominee must first have
been obtained. If the nominations exceed
the number of vacancies, a ballot shall
take place in such a manner as shall be
determined. Members of the Executive
Committee shall be elected annually at the
Annual General Meeting of the Group, and
outgoing members may be re-elected. The
Executive Committee shall meet not less
than 4 times a year at intervals of not more
than 3 months and the Honorary Secretary
shall give all members not less than seven
days notice of each meeting. The quorum
shall, as near as may be, comprise one
third of members of the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall
have the power to fill up to three casual
vacancies occurring among the member
of the Executive Committee between
General Meetings. The Executive
Committee shall appoint a vice chair(s) to
assist the Chair in managing the running of
the Group and to deputise at meetings.
The vice chair (or one of the vice chairs) will
usually be the previous Chair.
8. SUB-COMMITTEES
The Executive Committee may constitute
such committees from time to time as shall
be considered necessary for such purposes
as shall be thought fit. The Chairman of
each sub-committee shall be appointed by
the Executive Committee and all actions
and proceedings of each sub-committee
shall be reported to and be confirmed by
the Executive Committee as soon as
possible. Members of the Executive
Committee may be members of any
subcommittee and membership of a sub-
committee shall be no bar to appointment
to membership of the Executive
Committee. Sub-Committees shall be
subordinate to and may be regulated or
dissolved by the Executive Committee.
9. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
It shall be the duty of every Officer or
member of the Executive Committee or
Sub-Committee who is in any way directly
or indirectly interested financially or
professionally in any item discussed at any
Committee meeting at which he or she is
present to declare such interest and he or
she shall not discuss such items (except by
invitation of the Chairman) or vote thereon.
10. EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION AND
APPLICATION OF FUNDS
The Executive Committee shall, out of the
funds of the Group, pay all proper expenses
of administration and management of the
Group. After payment of the administration
and management expenses and the
setting aside of reserve of such sums as may
be deemed expedient, the remaining funds
of the Group shall be applied by the
Executive Committee in furtherance of the
purposes of the Group.
11. INVESTMENT
All monies at any time belonging to the
Group and not required for immediate
application for its purposes shall be invested
by the Executive Committee in or upon
such investments, securities or property as it
may think fit, subject nevertheless to such
authority approval or consent by the
Charity Commissioners as my for the time
being be required by law or by the special
Urban Design Group: Annual Report 2015
11
trusts affecting any property in the hands of
the Executive Committee.
12. TRUSTEES
Any freehold and leasehold property
acquired by the Group shall and, if the
Executive Committee so directs, any other
property belonging to the Group may be
vested in trustees who shall deal with such
property as the Executive Committee may
from time to time direct. Any trustees shall
be at least three in number or a trust
corporation. The power of appointment of
new trustees shall be vested in the
Executive Committee. The Trustees will be
responsible for overseeing the finances of
the UDG so that it remains financially
solvent and able to meet any normal
liability. That role will include giving
approval to the annual accounts and
budget. A trustee need not be a member
of the Group but no person whose
membership lapses by virtue of the clause 4
thereof shall thereafter be qualified to act
as a trustee unless and until reappointment
as such by the Executive Committee. The
Honorary Secretary shall from time to time
notify the trustees in writing of any
amendment hereto and the trustees shall
not be bound by any such amendments in
their duties as trustees unless such notice
has been given. The Group shall be bound
to indemnify the trustees in their duties
(including the proper charge of a trustee
being a trust corporation) and liability
under such indemnity shall be a proper
administrative expense.
13. BOARD OF PATRONS
A Board of Patrons shall be elected by the
Executive Committee. The board will
comprise not less than six Patrons and will
meet at least once a year with the
Executive Committee. Patrons will be
persons of note who have shown interest in
or have contributed to the pursuit of
excellence in urban quality. Patrons will
provide much of the public face of the
UDG. The Board will have no legal
responsibilities, merely fulfilling an advisory
and guiding function. Patrons will be
elected for a three year period and can be
re-relected.
14. AMENDMENTS
The Constitution may be amended by a
two-thirds majority of members present at
an Annual General Meeting or Special
General Meeting of the Group, provided
that 28 days notice of the proposed
amendment has been given to all
members and provided that nothing herein
contained shall authorise any amendment
the effect of which would cause the Group
at any time to cease to be a charity in law.
15. NOTICES
Any notice required to be given by these
rules shall be deemed to be duly given if
left at or sent by prepaid post addressed to
the address of that member last notified by
the Secretary.
16. WINDING UP
The Group may be dissolved by a two-thirds
majority of members voting at an Annual
General Meeting or Special General
Meeting of the Group confirmed by a
simple majority of members voting at a
further Special General Meeting held not
less than 14 days after the previous
meeting. If a motion for the dissolution of
the Group is to be proposed at an Annual
General Meeting or a Special General
Meeting this motion shall be referred to
specifically when notice of the meeting is
given. In the event of the dissolution of the
Group the available funds of the Group
shall be transferred to such one or more
charitable institutions having objects similar
or reasonably similar to those herein before
declared as shall be chosen by the
Executive committee and approved by the
Meeting of the Group at which the decision
to dissolve the Group is confirmed.
17. ACCOUNTANT
An accountant will be appointed annually
to carry out an independent examination
of the accounts, to be reported to the
AGM.
12
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF URBAN DESIGN GROUP
I report on the financial statements of Urban Design Group for the year ended 28 February
2015 which are set out on pages 13 to 17.
This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145
of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). My examination has been undertaken so that I might
state to the charity's trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent
examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not
accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as
a body for my examination, for this report or for the opinions I have formed.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and independent examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The
charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year (under section 145) of the
Act) and that an independent examination is required.
It is my responsibility to:
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
follow such procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity
Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by
the charity, and a comparison of the financial statements with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking
explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures do not
provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not
express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements:
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and to
comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
Andrew Thurburn
Andrew Thurburn & Co.
Chartered Accountants
38 Tamworth Road
Croydon
Surrey CR0 1XU 8 June 2015
13
URBAN DESIGN GROUP
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2015
Notes Unrestricted Restricted 2015 2014
Funds Funds Totals Totals
INCOMING RESOURCES
Subscriptions 114,461 - 114,461 76,781
Publications & Awards 2 6,099 - 6,099 13,354
Conference Fees & Sponsorship 14,246 - 14,246 -
Donation from Urban Design
Services Ltd 13,963 - 13,963 9,824
Activities to Generate Funds
Interest Received 373 - 373 920
HM Revenue & Customs: Gift Aid 4,216 - 4,216 3,992
Miscellaneous Income 458 - 458 335
–––––– –––––– –––––– ––––––
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 153,816 - 153,816 105,206
–––––– –––––– –––––– ––––––
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Charitable Expenditure
Publications & Awards 3 24,110 - 24,110 30,933
General 4 65,538 - 65,538 79,431
Conference Expenditure 16,201 - 16,201 -
Governance Costs 5 1,200 - 1,200 1,140
–––––– –––––– –––––– ––––––
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 107,049 - 107,049 111,504
–––––– –––––– –––––– ––––––
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
FOR THE YEAR 46,767 - 46,767 (6,298)
FUND BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD 93,967 93,967 - 93,967 100,265
–––––– –––––– –––––– ––––––
FUND BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD £140,734 £ - £140,734 £93,967
14
URBAN DESIGN GROUP
BALANCE SHEET
AT 28 FEBRUARY 2015
2015 2014
£ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS (Note 6) 1 1
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash at Bank
NatWest Current Account 48,476 10,427
Scottish Widows Account 84,580 109,207
Cash Float 144 50
Debtors (Note 7) 54,804 5,675
–––––– ––––––
188,004 125,359
–––––– ––––––
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors Falling Due Within
One Year (Note 8) 47,271 31,393
–––––– ––––––
NET CURRENT ASSETS 140,733 93,966
–––––– ––––––
TOTAL ASSETS £ 140,734 £ 93,967
Represented by:
ACCUMULATED RESERVES
Restricted Funds - -
Unrestricted Funds 140,734 93,967
–––––– ––––––
£ 140,734 £ 93,967
Approved by the Trustees on 8 June 2015
and signed on their behalf
......................................................................
Colin Pullan, Treasurer
......................................................................
Arnold Linden
15
URBAN DESIGN GROUP
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2015
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(i) Accounting Convention
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and the
SORP: Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in March 2005.
(ii) Depreciation
Equipment is depreciated at 25% on a straight line basis.
(iii) Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when
the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified
with reasonable accuracy. For the year under review there has been a change
in accounting policy in that subscriptions are now recognised when due and not
when received as had been the case in prior years.
(iv) Resources Expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under
headings that aggregate all cost related to the category.
(v) Taxation
The Charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
2. PUBLICATIONS INCOME 2015 2014
£ £
Sales of Journal 1,104 395
Journal Sponsorship 3,375 4,350
Urban Design Awards 1,620 4,260
Urban Design Directory - 2,720
Other Publications - 1,429
Sponsorship for Regional Events - 200
–––––– ––––––
£ 6,099 £ 13,354
3. PUBLICATIONS EXPENDITURE
Urban Design Directory 1,193 -
Journal Production & Printing 21,782 26,088
Urban Design Awards 1,135 4,845
–––––– ––––––
£ 24,110 £ 30,933
16
URBAN DESIGN GROUP
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2015
(Contd)
4. GENERAL CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES EXPENDITURE 2015 2014
Events 767 632
Urban News 1,000 1,000
Expenses for Regions 178 923
Consultant Director's Fees 27,405 25,050
Administrator's Salary & NI 16,476 34,412
Rent, Rates, Light & Heat 12,811 12,110
Telephone & Broadband 544 652
Postage, Stationery & Office Supplies 1,144 1,200
Administration & Travel Expenses 524 590
Insurance 643 643
Bank Charges 1,322 339
Payroll Admin 632 971
Direct Debit - 675
Accounts Consultancy 1,956 -
Miscellaneous 136 234
–––––– ––––––
£ 65,538 £ 79,431
5. GOVERNANCE COSTS
Independent Examiner's Fees £ 1,200 £ 1,140
6. FIXED ASSETS £
Cost of Equipment
As at 1.3.14 5,766
Additions -
––––––
As at 28.2.15 5,766
––––––
Depreciation
As at 1.3.14 5,765
Charge for the Year -
––––––
As at 28.2.15 5,765
––––––
Net Book Value
As at 29.2.14 £ 1
As at 28.2.15 £ 1
17
URBAN DESIGN GROUP
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2015
(Contd)
7. DEBTORS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2015 2014
Subscriptions 38,639 -
Urban Design Services Ltd 10,731 -
Gift Aid Recovery 3,600 3,600
Sundry Debtors 1,834 2,075
–––––– ––––––
£ 54,804 £ 5,675
8. CREDITORS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2015 2014
Directory Income 35,200 -
Urban Design Services Ltd - 13,668
Other Creditors 12,071 17,725
–––––– ––––––
£ 47,271 £ 31,393
9. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION
No Trustee received any remuneration or expenses during the year, nor were any
expenses reimbursed.
10. STAFF COSTS 2015 2014
Salaries 14,694 30,577
Social Security 1,782 3,835
–––––– ––––––
£ 16,476 £ 34,412
The average number of employees was 1 1